ffmpeg: locating libavformat.v

Audacity Help Forum macOS
1

Hi! I’ve been laboring for hours installing ffmpeg so that I can export audio as an AAC file. I’ve read any number of posts here - nothing seems to work for me.

I’m running Audacity 2.0.6 on a Mac Air upgraded to El Capitan (10.11).

I get the error message to properly configure ffmpeg. Found lots of advice here on how to do that. I drill down to libavformat.tv. I select it, then click OK, OK. That should do it, I understand. But I keep getting the error message.

I have two clues that might be of help. When I browse for the right location, Finder suggests the "Dynamic Libraries (*.dylib) format. That works as far as Download/libav-11.3/libavformat. In libavformat, though, all the files are greyed out. I have to change the Format dropdown from Dynamic Libraries to All Files to make them all clickable.

All the files there have the turned-corner paper icon. All the icons e_except_ libavformat.v have writing on them. The libavformat.v icon is blank.

Any idea what I’m up against here? This just goes on and on. I’ve installed with Audacity on, and Audacity off. I’ll found and deleted every ffmpeg file or page on the Mac, emptied the trash, and started fresh. I restarted the Mac right after the install to see if that helps. Nothing. Nada.

I’d appreciate any advice. I have only the most basic knowledge of audio processing and the deep dark workings of software, so the plainer you can make your advice, the more likely I’ll be able to us it! :wink:

Thanks very much.

2

I’ve had a similar problem recently (on Linux, but the same principles still apply). The version of FFmpeg must match the requirements of the Audacity version. If the versions don’t match, then it won’t work whatever you do.

I’d suggest that you start over:

  1. Remove Audacity and FFmpeg.
  2. Delete the “audacity.cfg” file - this is the file that stores the Audacity Preferences (see: http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/preferences.html#stored)
  3. Reboot your computer (probably not essential, but confirms that we have a fresh start).
  4. Download the current version of Audacity (2.1.1) from here: http://web.audacityteam.org/download/mac. Get the DMG package and install according to the instructions on the download page.
  5. Follow the instructions precisely for downloading and installing FFmpeg for Mac: http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/faq_installation_and_plug_ins.html#ffdown
  6. Launch Audacity and look in “Preferences > Libraries”. FFmpeg should be automatically detected.

Following the installation instructions precisely is essential for both Audacity and FFmpeg.
The order of the above steps is important. If you have trouble with any of the steps, please ask and one of the Mac guys will be able to assist.

3

I don’t know what you have been reading, but Audacity looks for libavformat.55.dylib, not libavformat.v or libavformat.tv.

Audacity 2.0.6 and later support FFmpeg 1.2 to 2.3.x (or libav 0.8 to 0.10.x), so libav 0.11.x will never work.

Follow what Steve wrote, or export as WAV or AIFF and convert to AAC in iTunes.


Gale

4

I didn’t mean to let these responses go without thanking you for them!

The problem I had with this in October was one of many I was dealing with simultaneously - all because I switched from the very easily customizable Android to the desperately un-customizable iPhone. Among other things, the iPhone is designed to discourage you from importing your own ringtones - what I was trying to accomplish with all these file conversions.

Just a day or two after posting my question, I gave up and traded the iPhone in for the latest Samsung. Peace has reigned ever since.

But I do appreciate your efforts to help. Thank you.